Best Tiropitakia Recipes

TIROPITAKIA (MINIATURE GREEK CHEESE PIES)

Steps:

• Remove the filo pastry from the refrigerator and let stand at room temperature about 1 hour.
• Make the filling by mashing the feta until it crumbles.
• Add to this the eggs, Emmenthal cheese, ricotta, parsley, mint and pepper and blend well.
• Cut each filo leaf into a strip 6 x 12" (15 x 30 cm).
• Brush each leaf with the melted butter.
• Fold the leaves in half lengthwise making strips 3 x l1" (6 x 30 cm).
• Again brush with butter and place 1 Tbsp.
• of the filling at the bottom of each leaf.
• Fold over to form a triangle (like you were folding a flag) and continue folding until the strip is completed.
• Repeat with each of the strips and place the completed triangles on a well greased cookie sheet.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Brush the tops of each triangle with butter and then with a mixture of the egg yolk and 2 Tbsp of water.
• Sprinkle over with the sesame seeds and bake in a medium oven until the pastries are golden brown and flaky (about 20- 30 minutes).
• Serve hot or cool.
• Yields 16- 24 pastries.

TIROPITAKIA (LITTLE CHEESE PIES)

Steps:

• Crumble or mash the feta cheese with a fork.
• Add the grated cheese, parsley, eggs and pepper.
• Cut pastry sheets in strips about 2x12 inches.
• Stack them one on top of the other to prevent From drying.
• Brush a strip of phyllo with melted butter, lay another strip on top and brush that one with butter too.
• Put one teaspoon of the filling on the short end of the strip, facing you, and fold over one corner to make a triangle.
• Continue folding pastry strip from side to side in the shape of a triangle until the entire pastry strip covers the filling. (Remember how we were taught to fold a flag into a triangular shape? Think of that as you keep folding the dough over. You should have a nice, neat, triangular packet.)
• Proceed in this manner with remaining pastry strips and filling until all are used.
• Put"tiropitakia" on a buttered baking sheet, brush generously with melted butter and bake in a moderate oven for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
• Serve hot.
• You can also make these ahead, put on a baking sheet and freeze, unbaked. When frozen, just keep them in a ziploc bag and you can have tiropitakia at a moment's notice. Just add 5 more minutes to the baking time if you're using frozen ones.

TIROPITAKIA *SAVORY CHEESE PUFFS* + PHYLLO DOUGH TUTORIAL

Steps:

• 1. Preheat your oven to 375F. In a small bowl, add your cheeses, your herbs, spices and beaten eggs. Mix thoroughly, set aside.
• 2. On a clean flat surface, bring out your phyllo dough.
• 3. Open it flat.
• 4. Preserving your phyllo dough so it doesn't dry out is very important. We have found that a long piece of wax paper is just as good (actually better, because the dough doesn't get soggy). You place a long piece of wax paper over the dough strips or whatever length you need.
• 5. If your not going to work with your dough right away. Still place the piece(s) of wax paper over you dough. Wet a couple of pieces of paper towel, wring out excess moisture. Place over the wax paper. This will ensure your dough will not dry out.
• 6. When you are ready to make the tiropitakia, divide your dough into strips.
• 7. It's much easier to do all the cutting at once, then cover the dough and take out what you need.
• 8. If you can't work with your strips immediately, don't panic. Roll the strips into a ball. Wrap with the wax paper and then place into a ziplock bag, seal and place in fridge for up to 2 days.
• 9. To make the tiropitakia; Melt your butter. I use the microwave, and usually do 1/2 c at a time. Take 2-3 strips of phyllo dough, baste with melted butter. Add 1tbls or so of filling.
• 10. You can decide which side you work with, I alway's start with the right top corner for some reason. Starting at the top right corner, bring your phyllo dough over the filling making a triangle. Flatten slightly to ensure all the pastry will have filling in it.
• 11. Now take the top LEFT pointy corner of your filled pastry, and bring it down on the left hand side.
• 12. Working again with the LEFT pointy part, bring your triangle over to the RIGHT.
• 13. Working now with the RIGHT top pointy part, bring it down straight on the right.
• 14. Continue doing this till you reach the end of the dough. At this point, just cut off the excess piece. Place on a plate till ready to use.
• 15. When you are ready to bake, line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil (easier clean up), spray with non stick cooking spray, baste the tiropitakia with melted butter. Bake in a preheated 375F oven for 18-22 minutes, till nicely golden.
• 16. These can be eaten as is, totally addicting, and so elegant on a plate. The various uses of this wonderful pastry dough is next to none. You can make them savory or sweet. Fill them with whatever you would like. I hope my tutorial has helped you... and make sure you come back and share your amazing phyllo dough recipes with us!!! Enjoy!!

SAVORY GREEK CHEESE PIES (TIROPITAKIA)

Steps:

• Measure ¼ cup of warm water in a measuring cup. Whisk the yeast and the sugar into the water and let stand until it bubbles, about 5 minutes.
• In a stand mixer equipped with a paddle, mix the flour with the salt. Pour in the water/yeast mixture, the Greek yogurt and the olive oil. Blend until the mixture forms a soft ball and the dough is elastic and easy to handle. If your dough seems dry, add some more warm water (1 tablespoon at a time). If it is too wet, add a bit more flour. Cover and let the dough rest for about an hour or until double in volume.
• After this resting time, punch the dough down to deflate and turn the dough out to a lightly floured surface. Divide it into 12 equal portions, about the size of a small walnut.
• Crumble the feta cheese with a fork and put it in a medium-sized bowl. Break the egg inside the bowl and stir with a spoon until you have a homogenous mixture.
• Preheat the oven to 375° F.
• Work with one piece of dough at a time, press it with the palm of your hand (or a small rolling pin, if you prefer) to make a roughly 3-inch disc. Fill each round with about a tablespoon of the filling, making sure not to spread it towards the edges of the dough or you will not be able to close it properly. Fold the dough over the filling and with a fork press down to seal. Place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Repeat with the rest of the dough and filling.
• Brush the cheese pies lightly with the beaten egg, and sprinkle some sesame seeds on (if using.) Place the baking sheet on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Take them out of the oven and place on a wire rack to cool.
• Eat them warm or at room temperature. To store, cover lightly with aluminum foil and leave at room temperature for one or two days, although they likely will not last that much.

TIROPITAKIA

Steps:

• mix together and roll into triangles. bake at 350 for 25 tuen over half way

GREEK TIROPITAKIA WITH FETA, RICOTTA AND OLIVE FILLING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180C.
• Prepare filling by crumming feta cheese in a large bowl.
• Mix ricotta cheese into the feta cheese.
• Chop up olives into small bits and put in mixture.
• Crack and egg and mix into the mixture, making sure the egg is mixed well.
• Prepare the phyllo sheets by placing them one at a time on a bench and drizzling them with a splash of butter.
• Chop the phyllo sheets into 4 squares.
• Place a teaspoon of the cheese mixture about 3cm away from an edge of each square.
• Fold each square and make them into a triangle shape.
• If desired, you may fold the triangle again.
• Back in oven for aprox 10-15mins and check regually.
• When golden brown, take out of oven and if desired serve with olive oil.

FETA CHEESE FILO TRIANGLES (TIROPITAKIA)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350˚ F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. Remove the package of filo from the refrigerator.
• Combine cheeses, egg, salt and pepper in a bowl. Stir until blended and set aside.
• Set up your station: you will need a large cutting board, a spoon, a pastry brush and the filo dough. Unwrap the filo dough and cover it well with plastic wrap and a kitchen towel while you work.
• Lay one sheet of filo horizontally oriented in front of you on your cutting board. Brush it with olive oil. Place a second sheet of filo on top of the first and brush it with some more olive oil. Run a knife down the filo dough every two inches and cut into eight even strips.
• Place one spoonful of the cheese mixture at the end of each strip. Lift one corner and fold it over to enclose the filling and make a triangle. Continue folding from side to side till you get to the end of the strip. Brush it with some olive to seal the end. Place on prepared pan, seem-side down. Brush the tops of the triangles with olive oil to keep them moist. Repeat process until you have used up all the filling.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool briefly before serving.
• In a small food processor, place the feta, Greek yogurt, cider vinegar, salt and pepper and process until fairly smooth.
• Slowly stream in the extra virgin olive oil, while continuing to pulse (you may need more or less, depending on your desired consistency). Taste and adjust the seasoning.
• Refrigerate for at least an hour. Bring to room temperature, stir again and serve as a spread for toasted pita wedges, on crostini or with crudités.